, his reputation as a merchant, perhaps, greatly weakened; and,
what was worse still, (not knowing the extent of his losses by Mr. T.),
he might not be able, after sacrificing everything he had in the world,
to pay his debts!

In a crisis like this, developments are exceedingly rapid, and
revulsion of feeling just as much so. The excitement is too intense to
endure delay. The best and the worst must be known, if possible, and
that at once. It was soon ascertained, therefore, in the case of
"Charless & Blow," that their loss, by the failure of our good and
honorable old friend, was not much; and the chief difficulty with them,
as with all other sufferers, lay in the loss of confidence between men,
and the consequent scarcity of money in circulation.

Your grandparents passed one troubled night in consequence of
this event, in which sleep--"tired nature's sweet restorer"--forsook
them. But the next afternoon found them taking a drive in grandpa's
buggy, calmly talking about their new circumstances, and resolving,
with a courageous heart, to meet them, whatever they might be. Of
course, I did all I could to encourage him, (else I would not have been
worthy the name of wife); became very self-sacrificing for a lady--willing
to part with my tea service, and all my silver-ware--any and
everything I had of value, except my bridal gifts; and then began to
speculate upon how very nice it would be to live in a neat little
cottage, etc., etc. For I was not too old to be romantic; and I do
really believe now, as I recall my enthusiasm on the subject, that I
would have been disappointed had anything occurred to prevent me from
exhibiting to my husband how cheerfully I could submit to misfortune.
No such test came; for the very next day a widow, who had deposited a
few hundred dollars with "the firm" for safe keeping, hearing of their
reverses, called to get her money. They had none; and my husband,
remembering my offer, sent a messenger, with a note, requesting me to
send the tea-service, with which to secure her. Cheerfully--for I was
glad it was in my power to secure the widow against loss, and to
relieve the mind of my husband to some little extent--but with a
beating heart, (for this was a birth-day gift from him), I parted with
my beautiful tea-service, and have never seen it since. It was sold to
pay that debt.

Our dear old mother was greatly afflicted because of our reverses
in fortune, and wept like a child; but